An impressive set with a number of high-quality barristers’, praised by some as ‘the strongest set in the South West for personal injury litigation’.”

The Legal 500 2024, Personal Injury

Our Personal Injury team have two KCs and over 20 junior barristers of varying levels of seniority, and we are recognised as “the go-to set” in the South West for catastrophic injury claims. In cases of the utmost severity, our barristers have the experience and knowledge to be able to lead the legal team through every aspect of the claims process. Their in-depth knowledge of case management and working with and advising on the use of experts, whether for the claimant or defendant, is second to none. They are always a responsive and reassuring presence in any complex and challenging case.

The team has a significant breadth of experience in catastrophic injury claims, including:

  • Traumatic or acquired brain injury
  • Partial or complete spinal injury
  • Birth injury
  • Amputation
  • Complex medical causation issues
  • Negotiating solutions to funding problems involving indemnities or other facilitative outcomes

Members of the team frequently handle extremely high-value claims for both claimant and defendant solicitors, and have extensive experience in the Court of Appeal as well as of conducting cases before the House of Lords.

We are instructed by a broad range of bodies, from insurance companies to trade unions and local authorities, as well as by individuals direct, and through their solicitors. We are panel or preferred Chambers for several major insurers. We are happy to undertake work on a conditional fee basis, subject to the usual risk assessment by Counsel.

We also advise on all clinical negligence and professional negligence claims.

WINNER - TEAM OF THE YEAROur Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Clerking team won ‘Team of the Year 2023’ by Bristol Law Society.

Our Clerking team enjoy a national reputation for the reliable, helpful and efficient service they provide to clients, always going that extra mile. The  clerks headed up by Adam Marston and Hugh Maguire and their team, Lara Hanney and Jordan Yandell, are consistently praised for their high standard client service in Chambers UK and The Legal 500.

Training

We design and deliver many seminars and workshops and are always happy to provide bespoke training to meet your team’s individual needs. Please contact Annette Bushell, Practice Manager, to discuss the extensive portfolio of workshops and bespoke seminars that we offer clients.

Catastrophic Injury Team

Christopher Sharp QC

Christopher Sharp KC

  • Call: 1975
  • Silk: 1999

Christopher is one of the leading personal injury and clinical negligence silks. He acts for both claimants and defendants, and the majority of his work involves multi-million-pound catastrophic brain and spinal injuries cases that very often contain complex...

View profile
Matthew Phillips QC

Matthew Phillips KC

  • Call: 1993
  • Silk: 2017

Matthew’s personal injury practice revolves around high value spinal and brain injury claims arising out of road traffic and workplace/industrial accidents. Matthew is also experienced in handling fatal accident claims and the calculation of damages pursuant to the...

View profile

Richard Stead

  • Call: 1979

One of Chambers’ most senior barristers, Richard has an extensive practice which encompasses personal injury, clinical negligence, professional negligence claims and property damage matters, including a number of high profile cases. Richard’s practice is also complemented by his...

View profile
Andrew McLaughlin

Andrew McLaughlin

  • Call: 1993

Andrew’s key fields of expertise lie in fundamental dishonesty, brain and spinal injury and alleged chronic pain, employers’ liability for accidents at work and industrial disease, road traffic accidents, bullying and stress at work, sexual abuse, occupier’s and...

View profile
Matthew White

Matthew White

  • Call: 1997

Matthew advises and represents clients in catastrophic injury claims, particularly traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, and serious orthopaedic or amputation cases. He is used to working with teams of medical and rehabilitation experts to ensure the best...

View profile
Julian Horne

Julian Horne

  • Call: 1998

Julian is an experienced personal injury barrister with expertise across the field. He is frequently instructed in cases involving catastrophic injury, from the initial phase prior to proceedings through to settlement – or, if required, trial. He also...

View profile

Justin Valentine

  • Call: 1999

Justin acts for claimants in both clinical negligence and personal injury cases where individuals have suffered life changing injuries. He is well regarded for his meticulous attention to detail, robust pleadings, skilled negotiation, persuasive advocacy and excellent client...

View profile
Rachel Russell

Rachel Russell

  • Call: 2001

Rachel is Head of our Personal Injury team, and has over 20 years’ experience in dealing with personal injury cases, acting for both claimants and defendants with extensive expertise in claims concerning catastrophic injuries of the utmost severity. She...

View profile
Darren Lewis

Darren Lewis

  • Call: 2004

Darren specialises in personal injury and employment matters, and was called to the Bar in 2004. He is a leading junior on civil fraud, fundamental dishonesty, S57 defences as well as committal for contempt of court. He has...

View profile
Louise Asprey

Louise Asprey

  • Call: 2007

Louise has many years of experience representing both claimants and defendants in personal injury and clinical negligence matters. She regularly deals with claims arising out of road traffic accidents and is experienced in dealing with claims brought under...

View profile
Patrick West website

Patrick West

  • Call: 2007

Patrick has a national practice, specialises in all areas of personal injury law including: Employers’ liability Occupiers’ and public liability Highways Act cases Holiday claims Road traffic Animals Act Product liability and consumer protection Sport accidents Credit hire...

View profile

Jimmy Barber

  • Call: 2008

Jimmy is a specialist practitioner in the fields of clinical negligence, personal injury and industrial disease. He joined St John’s Chambers in September 2015 having previously practised in London. In clinical negligence, Jimmy has experience of cases involving...

View profile
James Marwick

James Marwick

  • Call: 2008

James has been recognised as a leading junior in personal injury work for a number of years. He specialises in high-value claims and undertakes work for claimants and defendants involving serious injury. James accepts instructions in all areas...

View profile
Ben Handy

Ben Handy

  • Call: 2008

Ben is a specialist personal injury barrister widely recognised for his work representing claimants and defendants in serious injury claims. He also spends some of his time sitting as a Crown Court judge, having been appointed to the office of...

View profile

James Hughes

  • Call: 2011

James specialises in the following areas of work: Personal injury Clinical negligence Data protection James is a specialist personal injury and clinical negligence practitioner. He has extensive experience across the full spectrum of such work, including public and...

View profile
Rachel Segal

Rachel Segal

  • Call: 2013

Rachel is ranked as a leading junior in The Legal 500 for both personal injury and clinical negligence. She enjoys working across the spectrum of clinical negligence and has a particular interest in cases involving delayed diagnosis of...

View profile

Sophie Howard

  • Call: 2016

Sophie is a member of the Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence, and Inquest teams. She joined Chambers in May 2022 after completing a specialist third six pupillage under the supervision of Jimmy Barber. Having successfully completed a common law...

View profile
Beatrice Baskett

Beatrice Baskett

  • Call: 2021

Beatrice joined our Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence and Inquests teams in October 2023 following the successful completion of her pupillage under the supervision Robert Mills and Benjamin Handy. Beatrice is instructed regularly in fast-track trials, interlocutory applications and...

View profile

Derek O'Sullivan KC

  • Call: 1990
  • Silk: 2006

Derek O’Sullivan KC’s practice concentrates on personal injury and he has significant experience in: catastrophic injury claims, employer’s liability claims, occupier’s liability claims, fatal accident claims and road traffic accidents. Derek is also regularly instructed in health and...

View profile
Anna Symington-114

Anna Symington

  • Call: 2002

Anna acts for both claimants and defendants in most personal injury matters. Her areas of expertise are principally: Catastrophic injuries (with emphasis on amputation claims) CRPS Psychiatric and chronic pain cases Fraudulent and exaggerated claims Employers’ liability issues. Motor...

View profile

Directory Quotes

A market-leading set on the Western Circuit, St John’s Chambers is well regarded for its formidable personal injury offering.”

Chambers UK 2024, Personal Injury

St John’s Chambers is ‘an impressive set with a number of high-quality barristers’, praised by some as ‘the strongest set in the South West for claimant personal injury litigation’.

The Legal 500 2024, Personal Injury

A market-leading set, well regarded for its formidable personal injury offering. Its barristers regularly act for and advise both claimant and defendant clients, including numerous key insurance companies, in high-value catastrophic and fatal injury claims.”

Chambers UK 2023, Personal Injury

The clerks are very responsive and friendly.”

Chambers UK 2023, Personal Injury (Client Service)

The clerks of St John’s are outstanding and deserve a special mention.”

Legal 500 2023, Personal Injury (Client Service)

St John’s Chambers has a wide breadth of expertise and experience.’ ‘ They are always able to offer available counsel at the right level on any case.’ “

Legal 500 2023, Personal Injury

A market-leading set on the Western Circuit, St John’s Chambers is well regarded for its formidable personal injury offering. ‘The quality of advice provided by the barristers is exceptional.’ “

Chambers UK 2022, Personal Injury

The clerking is amazing, and everyone is so accommodating and helpful. Their thoroughness and ability to get straight to the nub of things is so impressive.”

Chambers UK 2022, Personal Injury (Client Service)

St John’s Chambers houses a comprehensive set of barristers in its personal injury team, which is praised by clients for its strength in depth.”

Legal 500 2022, Personal Injury

“A market-leading set on the Western Circuit, St John’s Chambers is well regarded for its formidable personal injury offering.”

Chambers UK 2021, Personal Injury

The clerks are efficient, friendly and take a can-do approach. ‘The clerking service is consistently first rate.’ ‘The clerks are very organised and efficient. I appreciate the speed with which they deal with things.’ ‘They respond quickly and deal with any issues promptly.’ “

Chambers UK 2021, Personal Injury (Client Service)

Seminars & Events

Get in touch or request a callback

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.